Martin Denny Organic Grooves 5 Items

Originally released in 1958, Primitiva is a rhythmically rich and inimitably exotic Martin Denny experience. Reissued by Jackpot Records on limited edition ocean blue color vinyl, Primitiva highlights the burgeoning sound of ’50s exotica music, with Denny’s diverse soundscape ranging from vibraphones and marimbas, to Burmese gongs and Buddhist prayer bowls. This third outing from the father of exotica shines in style with stand-out tracks like “Burma Train”, “M'Gambo Mambo”, and “Jamaica Farewell” spanning from the Caribbean coast, to the South Pacific islands, and beyond. Pairing perfectly with beachside Mai Tais and ornamental umbrellas, Primitiva is a hallmark of the mid-century’s lounge music fascination, and is replete with animal cries, pulsing percussion, and enough groovy goodness to keep it a mainstay of your rotation.

During the 1950s, ‘Father of Exotica’ Martin Denny helped American audiences expand their horizons by incorporating Asian, Polynesian, and Latin instrumentation into his group’s easy-listening repertoire, along with birdcalls and other sounds, spawning a new genre that took the nation by storm; he toured South America and had a residency in Hawaii earlier on, embedding such elements. Third LP Primitiva is a total delight, Julius Wechter’s vibes and marimba contrasting Tak Shindo’s koto and August Colon’s Latin percussion; ‘M’bira’ and ‘Mau Mau’ draw us to Africa, ‘Llama Serenade’ to Peru and ‘Bangkok Cockfight’ to Thailand, the closing ‘Jamaica Farewell’ a reconfigured Caribbean sunset. Strap in and enjoy this wild, mild ride!

Coming hot off the heels of his iconic debut, Martin Denny’s follow-up to the original Exotica is the ultimate companion piece. Originally released in mono in 1957—mere weeks after the first Exotica album kick-started the new lounge craze—Exotica Volume II further demonstrated Denny’s unique imagination as both a musician and an entertainer. Jackpot Records’ limited edition reissue of Exotica Volume II is pressed on tropical green color vinyl, and brings Denny’s unique space age twist on Pan-Asian and Polynesian music direct to your stereo. With featured tracks like “Singing Bamboos”, “Rush Hour in Hong Kong”, and “Soshu Night Serenade”, Exotica Volume II is equally fitting as a breezy lounge listen or to set the mood for your very own tiki bar cocktail hour.

Travelling beyond the tropical waters of the South Pacific, Afro-Desia showcases Martin Denny’s foremost foray into the sounds and rhythms of the African continent. Pressed on flame-orange color vinyl, Afro-Desia’s twelve tracks burn bright and bring the groove with a chorus of marimbas, timbales, congas, and the sounds of the safari itself. Featuring eclectic and atmospheric tracks like “Simba”, “Aku Aku”, and “Jungle Drums”, this record, originally released in 1959, marks the end of Martin Denny’s ’50s experimentalism before his move into more conventional cocktail jazz.

This is the one and only Martin Denny diving into the highly exotic sounds of India. Originally released in 1968 on Liberty Records "A Taste of India" stands as one of the best later Denny's work. Here the king of Exotica injects his gorgeous instrumental arrangements with tons of sitars and tanpuras as the main ingredients of another stylized sound trip. The album highlights include a memorable version of The Strawberry Alarm Clock's "Incense and Peppermints" and Denny's own masterpiece "Hypnotique".